Signal-alarm.



W. J. VAN OSDEL.

SIGNAL ALARM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8,.19 l5.

1 1 97,689 Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

WILLIAM J. VAN OSDEL,

OF CHICAGO, ILLIN 'OIS, ASSIGNOR 0F TWO-THIRDS 'IO LOUIS SPERLING, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SIGNAL-ALARM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept, 12, 19-16,

Application filed March 8, 1915. Serial No. 12,776.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM J. VAN Os- DEL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSignal-Alarms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in signal alarms, particularlyadapted, though not necessarily limited in its use for attachment to aclosure casing to indicate the opening of the closure. Heretofore indevices of this character, it has been necessary to open the closure toa considerable extent in order to actuate the alarm, thereby renderingit possible for the intruder to insert his hand or an instrument todestroy or mutilate the device to such an extent that it would notoperate. a

To overcome these objections and difliculties and to provide an improveddevice of this character which will sound an alarm as soon as theclosure is moved or before it is opened to any appreciable extent, isone of the objects of this invention.

A further object is to provide an improved, simple, durable, cheap andeffective bell construction for imparting a vibratory alarm.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new anduseful objects, as will appear, the invention consists in the featuresof novelty in substantially the construction, combination andarrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described, andclaimed and shown in the accompanying drawing illustrating the inventionand in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a door and the casingtherefor showing an attachment applied thereto constructed in accordancewith the principles of this invention. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional viewtaken on line 22, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a view taken on line 3-3, Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 10 designatesthe door casing, and 11 the door. The alarm comprises a base 12, aportion of whichis shaped to form an e e or loop 13 and mounted uponthis base 1s a stud 14 about which an escapement ratchet 15 rotates, andthis escapement ratchet actuates an escapement 16 having a hammer 17connected therewith. A

ratchet 18, is also rotatably supported by the stud 14, and isoperatively connected with the ratchet 15 by a spring controlled pawl19, pivotally connected with the escapement ratchet 15. A spring 20 isconnected by one extremity with the ratchet 18, and is anchored by itsother extremity as at 21. The bell 22 is supported by the stud 14 and isdetachably connected with the ratchet 18 by means of lugs 22, enteringsuitable recesses in the hub of the ratchet 18, in such a manner thatwhen the bell is rotated with respect to the base 12, it will turn theratchet 18, the dog 19 yielding to permit the ratchet to turn to windthe spring and the escapement ratchet 15 is held against rotation whilethe spring is being wound, by means of a catch 23 engaging between theteeth of the escapement 15. This catch is pivotally supported by thebase 12, so that its extremity 24 will engage between the teeth of theescapement ratchet 15 to lock the latter to maintain the spring 20against unwinding, and the extremity 25 of the catch projects over theeye or loop 13 formed on the base 12, so that when the catch 23 istripped, the portion 25 will engage the eye or loop and will form a stopfor the catch. When thus released, the escapement 15 will be rotatedunder the influence of the spring 20 to vibrate the hammer 17 In orderto hold the spring 20 from contacting with the bell 22,

plates 26 may be provided between whichthe spring is arranged.

Connected with the catch 25 is one end of a flexible member 27 whichpasses through the eye or loop 13 and is adapted to be wound about theshank 28 of the door knob 29, and the free extremity of the flexiblemember is formed into a hook adapted to hook into one of the links ofthe flexible member. When the device is thus in position, all that isnecessary to set the same, is to wind the spring by rotating the bell,the catch 23 holding the ratchet 15 during the winding operation. Whenthe closure 11 is moved, it will be manifest that the catch 23 will betripped and the end 25 will be drawn against the eye or loop 13 to standthereacross nd the latter will not only serve as a stop for the catch,but will also relieve the pivot of the catch as well as the remainingportion of the mechanism against any strain due to the opening of theclosure. The extremity of the catch may be shaped to form a handle 31,if desired, by means of which the catch may be manipulated.

With this improved device it will be manifest that the device may beemployed as a door chain bolt, inasmuch as the catch 28 will engage theeye 13, and all strain of the flexible member will be exerted upon theeye 13 and not upon any portion of the bell operating mechanism.

That is claimed as new is:

1. An alarm embodying a bell for securing to a closure casing, actuatingmeans embodying a motor device, a catch pivotally mounted intermediateits ends to move in a vertical plane for controlling the motor device, aflexible member connected directly with one end of the catch for rockingit to release the motor device, the free end of the flexible memberadapted to be wrapped around a door knob and detachably engage theflexible member, a combined guide loop and stop extending across thepath of movement of said catch to limit the extreme downward movement ofthe catch, whereby the pivot of the catch is relieved from strain whenthe flexible member is drawn taut;

paid flexible member extending through said 2. A device of the characterdescribed, embodying a base plate, a guideloop to one side of andintegral with said plate, bell motor mechanism supported by said plate,a pivot post on said plate disposed at right angles to the axis of theguide loop, a catch mounted on said post to move in a vertical plane forcontrolling the motor, the outer end of said catch extending beyond andtransversely of the opening of said loop and normally out of engagementtherewith, a flexible member connected to said catch and extendingthrough the said loop; whereby when the flexible member is pulled itmoves the said catch into engagement with said loop which limits itsfurther movement, and relieves the mechanism from strain when theflexible member is drawn taut.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 4th day of March A. D.1915.

WILLIAM J. VAN OSDEL.

Witnesses:

LOUIS SPERLING, J. H. J ocHUM, Jr.

coplel of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

